It is easy to tell the real from the counterfiet in this case. Not only do the patterns look completely different, the word COPY on the reverse makes it official. In our picture, the fake is on the left and the real is on the right. See the difference?

Your replica of an 1849 double eagle is worth less than $1 US dollar. It is not made of gold. You can buy these as novelty items from many different outlets. If it were real, it would be quite valuable. Check this CoinQuest link for our complete appraisal.

Unfortunately, almost-perfect counterfeits exist for many rare coins today. If you are unsure, we always recommend that your buy coins certified to be genuine by PCGS, NGC, ANACS, or ICG. Do not use other services.